Wildfires Latest: Helpful Weather; Oregon Official Warns Of ‘Mass Fatality Incident’

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Firefighters monitor a controlled burn along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to help contain the Dolan Fire near Big Sur, Calif., on Friday.

Nic Coury/AP

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Nic Coury/AP

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A man stops on his bike along the Willamette River as smoke from wildfires partially obscures the Tilikum Crossing Bridge on Saturday in Portland.

John Locher/AP

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John Locher/AP

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A burned residence is seen as destructive wildfires devastate the region on Friday in Talent, Ore.

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Paula Bronstein/AP

A burned residence is seen as destructive wildfires devastate the region on Friday in Talent, Ore.

Paula Bronstein/AP

Authorities battle conspiracy theory narrative

Alongside efforts to contain the blazes, authorities in the Pacific Northwest have been battling the spread of misinformation.

Postings to Facebook and other social media sites have been spreading rumors of looting and even blaming left-wing activists for starting the blaze.

In Oregon, where right-wing and left-wing activists clashed in Portland, conspiracy theories have blamed antifa — anti-fascist protesters — with starting fires.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that in rural parts of the state, vigilante groups have organized to drive off rumored threats. One of the station’s reporters was recently stopped by such a group in Clackamas County and told to leave.

Law enforcement organizations have been working to quash the rumors.

In Douglas County, the sheriff’s office shot down rumors that it had arrested several antifa members, calling the conflagration of misinformation a drain on resources.

«Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON, the Sheriff’s office posted to its Facebook page this week.

Similar rumors spread in Jackson County, where officials opened an investigation into the Almeda fire.

«In no way does it point towards any political group, including anybody associated with antifa. Any rumors suggesting that it is pointed toward antifa are entirely fabricated, said Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara.

The FBI field office in Portland says it has investigated such rumors are found them untrue.

«Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away [from] local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control, the field office said in a statement on Friday.

Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Ryan Haas and Conrad Wilson contributed to this report.